July 04, 2025

McDonald’s Makeover

First Avenue location will be closed for extensive renovation starting June 12

By Jamee A

The First Avenue East McDonald’s location is prepping for a complete demolition and reconstruction of the fast food restaurant. It is set to close on June 12 for about three months of construction before the new building opens in October. (Jamee A)

Grab an extra Big Mac and a few more chicken McNuggets because the First Avenue McDonald’s location will be closed for service for an exciting reason. The restaurant, 726 First Ave. E., is getting a makeover by way of a complete demolition, reconstruction and modern update of the building starting June 12.

“Out last day open will be June 11,” McDonald’s Office Manager Toby Johnson said. “We will take a couple of days for utilities to be shut down and everything to be taken out of the building, then start demolition on June 14.”

The remodel is a long time coming for the established fast food restaurant. Johnson said plans for a new building have been in the works for more than two years but have been delayed for various reasons.

“We are so excited. We have been waiting,” owner Kara Van Steenis said.

Those who are accustomed to the restaurant should be ready for a complete change, Van Steenis said. From a new location on the lot to new, modern styling in the interior and table service, the new McDonald’s won’t be recognizable to loyal customers.

“The building is old. It will be completely different,” Johnson said. “It will be located a little different on the lot, the parking lot, landscaping, everything will be redone, improved. Everything will be updated, the lobby will be a new, updated version, different colors, different style, very modern. It won’t even look like it is the same from what the people are used to.”

On the lot, there will not be parking on the drive-thru side of the building and customers will be able to drive straight out to the road instead of curving, like the current configuration. The parking lot will also be updated, making it “less goofy,” Van Steenis said.

“We are going to have the latest of everything,” Van Steenis said. “The drive thru will have a digital menu board with graphics that also run video of our products and our specials. We will be one of the first McDonald’s in the state of Iowa to have that.”

The restaurant will also be adding various technological advances including kiosks in the dining area allowing customers to skip the line, the ability to order from your smart phone and pick up the meals upon arrival at McDonald’s and interactive games for kids to play on a few of the tables.

“We are pretty excited for all of the new technology,” Van Steenis said.

Following about three months or 100 days of construction, the new restaurant is anticipated to reopen at the beginning of October.

“It is exciting for everybody,” Johnson said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com